Improvement in corset-clasps



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WALLACE, DE GRASSE FOWLER, AND HERBERT E. FOWLER, OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSET-CLASPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,524, dated October 17, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT WALLACE, DE GRASSE FowLER, and HERBERT E. Fow- LER, all of Wallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corset-Clasps; and we hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to that class of steel corset-clasps which are inserted at the front of the corset in lieu of the steel spring heretofore used to give the required shape to the corset and support to the body. These clasps are made in pairs, one of which is provided with buttons or hooks b, the other with eyes e. Corsets having such clasps are open in front and are put on and taken off by engaging' the buttons in or disengaging them from the eyes referred to. The clasp therefore performs the double oice of a shaping and supporting spring and ofa means of fastening the corset.

As heretofore constructed, in order to give them the required strength, the clasps were made ofa stout steel bar, the objections to which were that they were heavy, sti, or unyielding, particularly at the part corresponding to the stomach, where it is desirable that the spring should be of greater exibility than at either the upper or lower portion.

The object of our improvement, therefore, is to make a corset-clasp of the requisite form and strength, but rigid or comparatively stiff at its curved upper and lower ends, and flexible and elastic in the middle, yet light, whereby a cheaper and better article is obtained; and we have accomplished the same by longitudinally corrugating the steels from both ends to such points of the steels between which greater elasticity is required.

The corrugation may be formed by raising a central bead at the two ends by means of corrugating-rollers or other equivalent means, or a bead may be run throughout the whole length of the steel by making it deeper at the ends, and in the middle shallow, in proportion to the elasticity required.

Instead of forming a central bead, as described, the steel may be corrugated by giving it a certain convexity across its whole width, which convexity is greater at the ends than in the middle.

In the accompanying drawing we have represen ted, in perspective view, acorset-clasp made in accordance with this our invention.

In the said drawing, S S are the steels. The former is provided with buttons or studs b, while the latter has corresponding eyes, to which, however, no claim is laid. The steels are corrugated at both ends. The bead or corrugaton in the upper end is more extended to impart the proper rigidity of form or render more permanently convex the upper part of the corset or part corresponding to the breast, while the other extremity is corrugated to give the required concavit-y to the lower part of the corset, and which is more or less extended, according to fashion or the taste of the wearer. Between the points m and n, where the respective beads terminate, theclaspis plane-surfaced or dat, and is consequently more elastic and yielding to the motions of the body than at either end.

Having thus fully described our invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, we claiml. The method herein described of making corset-clasps, by longitudinally corrugating the steel at both ends, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, corset clasps or steel, in which a longitudinal central bead is raised at the ends of the steels, or such parts thereof which require greater strength and rigidity, substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification before two subscribin g witnesses.

ROBERT WALLACE. DE GRASSE FOWLER. HERBERT E. FOWLER. Vitnesses:

E. S. IVES, J. B. PoMERoY. 

